Damascus Road by Charlie Cole Read Free Book Online Page A

boots, then walked to the door. I
pulled it open to find Ellis in suit and tie. He nodded a greeting, neither
warm nor cold, but more acknowledgement of me reporting for duty, albeit
disheveled and in my clothes from the day before.
    He was flanked by the Secret Service agents.
    “Hauser. Truman,” I said. They nodded. My presence was duly
noted.
    “We’ve got an event today,” Ellis said. “I’m speaking at the
auditorium today. We’re going to get there early, conduct sound checks, the
usual.”
    “That’s a bit of exposure, isn’t it?” I asked.
    “We’ve got it handled, slick,” Hauser said.
    “That’s what we’re here for, sir,” Truman continued. I
remembered him from the election office. He had tried to stop me from entering.
He was cool, smooth. Definitely the senior agent.
    “I appreciate your work, gentlemen,” I said. “Thank you.”
    Ellis obviously hadn’t told them that I had agreed to help
him. Of course he hadn’t, because he hadn’t told them about the threats. In the
end, it worked out just fine. There was no way I was going to stand post with
federal agents.
    “Isaac has the documentation that we discussed earlier,
Jim,” Ellis said. “He’s aware of the situation.”
    “I understand completely,” I said.
    Ellis turned and walked for the elevator, agents in tow.
    “Senator?” I said.
    Ellis stopped and turned.
    “Yes?”
    “With all due respect, sir, watch your six,” I said.
    “All the way,” Ellis replied. He caught my meaning which was
good. “Isaac is in the restaurant. Ground floor. He’s waiting on you.”
    “Yes, sir,” I replied. And with that, he was gone.
    I walked back into my hotel room and changed quickly. I wet
down my hair, combing it back into some sort of order. Rebooted, rewashed and
recovering, I was as ready for the day as I was going to get.
    The Bible lay on the bed. I picked it up and slid it into my
jacket pocket. I left my sling behind and opted to go with just the cast on my
arm. It felt good and strong now. I’d need to get the cast off sooner rather
than later.
    The balisong knife lay in the drawer of the nightstand. I
picked it up and weighed its heft. Without a second thought, I deposited it
into my pocket. A man was more than the tools he took with him.
    I pocketed my key and exited the room. I walked past the
elevator to the stairs and jogged down them to the ground floor. I exited into
the lobby and walked straight for the restaurant.
    Deep in the restaurant sat Isaac, alone with his thoughts,
reading his morning paper, glasses low on his nose. I navigated past the line
waiting to be seated, dodging a waitress with a serving tray full of entrees,
and dropped into a seat across from Isaac.
    “Good morning,” I said.
    Isaac looked up at me and said nothing at first. He took off
his glasses and set them on the table. He rubbed at his face.
    “You didn’t shave,” I noted.
    Isaac grunted at me.
    “I make you uncomfortable, I take it,” I said.
    “That’s a fair statement,” he conceded.
    “I mean the Senator no harm,” I said. “I don’t want to cast
him in a bad light or bring him bad press. I’m not attending publicity events
with him or drinking in public. No one needs to know that I’m here.”
    “Why are you here?” Isaac asked.
    “Didn’t he tell you?” I asked.
    “He told me you were having some troubles,” Isaac replied.
    “Aside from that?”
    Isaac scowled at me over his glasses. I smiled back at him
and flipped over my cup, ready for coffee.
    “What do you do for a living, Mr. Marlowe?” Isaac asked.
    “I’m an entrepreneur,” I said. “I make my own
opportunities.”
    “That’s intriguing,” Isaac said. “Care to elaborate?”
    “Nope.”
    “You’re incorrigible,” he sighed.
    “My wife called me that,” I said. “It’s sweet.”
    “You’re married?” Isaac asked.
    “That’s an ugly rumor. Shame on you.”
    Isaac sighed and threw up his hands. The waitress smiled and
filled my